Women Raise Their Voices In Protest Of Birth Control Coverage Rollback

#HandsOffMyBC

Activists and women's health care advocates took to social media Friday night in the wake of the White House's announcement of the rollback of Obama-era mandate that required employers to cover birth control through their health insurance plans as a preventive service with no co-pay. The move reopened the national debate about birth control both in person and online.

Using #HandsOffMyBC, Twitter users responded to the announcement with stories about how birth control has impacted their lives — many of which illustrate the often-forgotten fact that birth control is prescribed for uses other than as a contraceptive.

Birth control is central to lives of millions of women, families in America. Allows us to plan pregnancies, work & careers. Trump's end to contraceptive coverage will be costly, lead to more unintended pregnancies 👉 Join me in saving our birth control!#HandsOffmyBC

According to Planned Parenthood, 62.4 million women gained access to birth control under regulations put in place during the Obama administration. Nearly 90 percent of women of reproductive age have used birth control in their lifetime.

The American Civil Liberties Union declared its intention to file a lawsuit in response to the Trump administration's policy change two hours after the rollback was announced. Additionally, the National Women's Law Center, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have stated they will seek legal action as well as the Attorneys General of California and Massachusetts.

"My office has been vigilant when it comes to fighting for health care coverage and ensuring equality in the workplace," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey told The Hill in a statement. "I will be suing the Trump administration today to stop this rule and defend critical protections for millions of women in Massachusetts and across the country."